I began my journey with NESEA 15 years ago as a student interested in the sustainable built environment and found a real passion for the work of the community, and the individuals dedicated to not just a career, but a lifelong mission of environmentalism, community, and regional sustainability. I have served on conference content committees, wrote for the NESEA Blog, hosted Pro Tours, presented at the BE Boston Conference, and received the 2020 Kate Goldstein Emerging Leader Award for my involvement in my early career with the NESEA Community. As a lifetime NESEA member I see this involvement continuing to influence my personal growth, and this stage of my career toward assisting the leadership direction of the organization through greater involvement on the board. The future of the organization will be in accelerating decarbonization while providing data to validate outcomes and a moral and equitable conscious to inspire change.

Looking towards the future, the work to decarbonize the built environment is daunting, and leaning on communities of practice and collaboration is paramount. NESEA has a long history of facilitating this knowledge sharing, data gathering, and vision to allow practitioners to share best practices, and to allow a place for future generations of leaders and advocates to find their own voice. I feel lucky enough to have been a part of NESEA for my early career and am dedicated to giving back. My experience on boards such as my local housing authority, and as co-founder of Sustainable Comfort have overseen the growth of the organization from 3 to 50 people in 8 years. By serving on the board I feel I can combine my background and dedication to NESEA with my experience in serving on boards and creating and leading organizations.

The work of the NESEA board is important to help set the vision and leadership direction of the organization and allocate resources in concert with the Executive Director. I have a balanced background in building science with the values of NESEA, and have experience with board level governance and decision making to support organizational leadership and financial management. My leadership philosophy is heavily influenced by my time in music organizations and have directed large organizations from 50 to 300 people. The role of a board is much like selecting and guiding the type of music a group will perform, and properly resourcing and selecting individual experts where they are best able to succeed. When done well the results are not only fun and uplifting experiences, but can shape life changing communities. Addressing the climate will take both technical, and community level shifts in values.